Paving-block.



ALBERT V. SAMMIS, OF HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK.

PAVING-BLOCK.

Specfication of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 19, 1913. Serial No. 779,946.

To aZZ 'whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, ALBERT V. SAMMIS, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Huntington, county of Sufiolk, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paving-Blocks, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The main Object of this invention is to provide an artificial or molcledpaving block for use in making roadways and the like, and of suchConstruction and character that it may be laid on a hard dirt foundationwithout the necessity of first laying a concrete or other artificialfoundation.

Another Object of the invention is to so construct the paving block thatit will be held against .individual vertical displacement, each blockbeing firmly locked to all of the abutting and contacting blocks. Asthese blocks are laid to break joints each block will be interlockedwith six adjoining and abutting blocks so that they will each besupported by the surrounding blocks, and a downward strain brought onany one block will be transmittecl and distributed throughout alargenumber of interlocked blocks.

Another Object of the invention is to so construct the block that it maybe shifted or turned end for end, side for side and bottom for top. Theadvantage of this is that in laying a pavement, ro-adway, or evenforming a wall with the blocks, theworkman may use the blocks as hefinds them. It will not be necessary for him' to turn them about or toreverse them in order to bring them into proper interlocking relation tothe blocks already set. As these blocks are of considerable size andweight it is manifest that by providing a block which may be broughtinto proper relation with the blocks already set or laid withoutapreliminary manipulation the blocks may;

be laid with much less labor than would be necessary if the blocks hadto be specially fitted and adjusted into position,

Other important Objects and advantages of the invention will appearhereinafter.

In the drawing, Figure 1 isa plan view of a series of blocks laidtogether; Fig. 2 a Vertical sectional View substantially on the lineII-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a similar view substantially on line III III ofFig. 1; Fig. 4 a plan view of a single block; Fig. 5

Patented May 12, 1914.

especially for paving roadways but which,

of course, may be used for walls or other purposes. The block is formedwith upper and lower portions 2 and 3 and with areentral enlargedportion 4. Between the end portions and the central enlarged portionsare formed grooves 5 which extend entirely around the block, saidgrooves forming, When the blocks are assembled, channels for thereception of water-proofing and sealing material, as shown clearly inFig, 2. When the blocks are assembled channels are formed between theadjoining reduced portions 2 and 4: of the blocks, said channels beingalso adapted to receive sealing and water-proofing material.

.The blocks are rectangular in cross section and are formed with thelong sides G and with the short ends 7. Each end of the block is formedwith two outwardly extending pyramidal extensions or projections 8 andthe two correspondingly shaped recesses 9. .The projections are arrangeddiagonally opposite each other on the end of the block and the recessesare correspondingly 'arrangedL The recesses and projections on one'endof the block are reversed in position with respect to the recesses andprojections on the other end of the block so that a line passing throughthe block from the center of one pro-jection would intersect the centerof a recess on the other end 'of the block. 3 and 6 of the drawing. Bymeans of this arrangement of recesses and projectio-ns the blocks may befitted together end for end without regard to which surface is uppermostso that the operator so assembling the blocks takes them as he findsthem and This is shown very clearly in Figs. o

brings them together without preliminary blocks. Each group ofinterlocking elements consists of two outwardly extending pyramidalprojections 12 and two similarly shaped recesses 13 in the block. "heprojections are arranged diagonally opposite each other and the recessesare similarly arranged with respect to each other. The projections onone side of the block are arranged directly opposite recesses on theopposite side of the block, as shown clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawing.By this arrangement of interlocking elements in groups on the long sidesof the blocks the workman in laying the blocks may assemble them as hefinds them without the necessity of turning said blocks end for end orof reversing them or turning them over in order to bring the properinterlocking elements together.

The upper and lower inclined sides of the projections and recesses formcams or wedges which tend to throw the blocks laterally or outwardlyfrom each other when a. downward strain is brought thereon. Thisdownward strain, therefore, is converted into an outward or lateralthrust which serves to bind the blocks together in an arch-likeStructure. By constructing the blocks with the interlocking projectionsand recesses of the shape shown they are self-sustaining and cannot beVertically displaced by a depressing strain.

It is manifest that if desired the groups of interlocking elements onthe ends of the blocks may be dispensed with. It is also manifest thatfor some purposes the groups of elements on the sides of the block mayalso be dispensed with. It is also manifest that if square blocks are tobe used in the form of tiles only one group of interlocking elementsneed be placed on each side of the block. In this Construction, however,the blocks could not be laid to break joints.

lVhen the blocks are shapecl as shown in. the drawings they are laid tobreak joints. In this arrangement each block is interlocked on each ofits sides with two abutting blocks; and, of course, its ends areinterlocked with abutting blocks, as shown clearly in Fig. l of thedrawing.

hat I claim is:

1. A paving block formed with a group of intcrlocking elements on eachof two opposite Vertical faces, the group of elements on one face beingdirectly opposite 'the group of elements on the other face, each groupof elements consisting of two outwardly extending projections diagonallyarranged with respect to each other and two inwardly extending recessescorrespondingly arranged with respect to each other, the projections onone face of the block being directly opposite the recesses on the otherface of the block.

2. A paving block formed with reduced upper and lower portions and anenlarged middle or central portion, a group of interlocking elements oneach of two opposite Vertical faces of the enlarged portion of theblock, the group of elements on one face being directly opposite thegroup of elements on the other face, each group of elements consistingof two outwardly extcnding projections diagonally arranged with respectto each other and two inwardly extending recesses correspondinglyarranged with respect to each other, the projections on one face of theblock being directly opposite the recesses on the other face of theblock.

3. A paving block formed with reduced upper and lower portions and anenlarged middle or central portion, a groove extending around the blockat the junction of the reduced portions with the enlarged portion, agroup of interlocking elements on each of two opposite Vertical faces ofthe enlargecl portion of the block, the group of elements on one facebeing directly opposite the .group of elements on the other face, eachgroup of elements consisting of two outwardly eXtending projectionsdiagonally arranged with respect to each other and two inwardlyextending recesses correspondingly arranged with respect to each other,the projections on one face of the block being directly opposite therecesses on the other face e of the block.

t. A rectangular paving block formed with two groups of interlockingelements on each of two opposite Vertical faces, said groups of elementsbeing arranged equal distances from the ends of the block, the groups ofelements on one face being directly opposite the groups of elements onthe other face, each group of elements consisting of two outwardlyextending projections diagonally arranged with respect to each other andtwo inwardly extending recesses correspondingly arranged with respect toeach other, the projections on one face of the block being directlyopposite the recesses on the other face of the block.

5. A rectangular paving block formed with reduced upper and lowerportions and an enlarged middle or central portion, two groups ofinterlocking elements on each of two opposite vertical faces of theenlarged portion of the block, said groups of elements being arrangedequal distances from the ends of the block, the groups of elements onone face being directly opposite the groups of elements on the otherface, each group of elements consisting of two outwardly extendingprojections diagonally arranged with respect to each other and twoinwardly extending recesses correspondingly arranged with respect toeach other, the projections on one face of the block being directlyopposite the recesses on the other face of the block.

6. A paving block formed with a group of interlocking elements on eachof two opposite Vertical faces, the group of elements on one face beingdirectly opposite the face of the block being directly opposite thegroup of elements on the other face, each recesses on the other face ofthe block. 10 group of elements consisting of two out- In testimonywhereof I hereunto afix my wardly extending pyramidal projectionsdsignature in the presence of two witnesses. agonally arranged withrespect to each other ALBERT V. SALIMIS; v and two inwardly extendingrecesses corre- Witnesses:

spondingly shaped and arranged with re: LILLIAN MCGUIRE,

spect to each other, the projections on one F. R. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtaine for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. C."

